EC Technology & EC Fans

Axair Fans has established long term partnerships with manufacturers ECOFIT s.a. (France) and ROSENBERG Gmbh (Germany), and are now able to offer Energy Efficient EC fans and air movement products. Both Ecofit & Rosenberg develop and manufacture their own motors and fans. The Ecofit EC range use motors from 65 up to 113Wa, the Rosenberg range use motors from 1.1 up to 3.4Kwa motors.

What is EC technology?

EC Technology stands for Electronically Commutated and combines AC and DC voltages, which is essentially a fan with a brushless DC motor, bringing the best of both technologies: the motor runs on a DC voltage, but with a normal AC supply. DC motors already have low power consumption but if used in an AC application, the power needed converting AC to DC, using a bulky, inefficient transformer. The EC motor incorporates voltage transformation within the motor. The non-rotating part of the motor (stator) is extended to make room for an electronic PCB board which includes power transformation AC to DC, as well as the controls.

All the features of the external rotor motor are kept, including compact assembly, easy speed controllability, efficiency and characteristics.

EC Motor – Principle

With an EC motor the electronic circuitry stands in lieu of the traditional mechanical commutation meaning the right amount is being supplied in the right direction at exactly the right time providing precise motor control.

Permanent-magnet brushless DC motor within the rotor

The stator is driven by electronic switches (which replace the Carbon brushes), controlled by a microcontroller.

Electronic system (hall effect sensor or software is used to recognize the rotor position)

Benefits

Control : 100% speed controllable, not frequency dependant. Can be set-up for constant airflow or constant pressure applications, 0-10VDC or PWM control signal.

Low motor temperature : for longer lifetime than AC equivalent

Simplicity : Electronic & power transformation are completely integrated within the motor.

High performance : Speed can be driven up to 3600rpm, one EC fan replace multiple type of motors (2, 4 and 6 pole)

Easy connection : No complicated wiring and set-up with a Frequency Controller, EC fans have very little configuration.

Efficiency

EC technology motors have a near flat efficiency curve which barely varies across the speed range. A range of which is not limited by synchronous speeds or susceptible to voltage variations like its AC counterpart. Its AC equivalent will operate at a precise point on the curve which equates to its maximum efficiency, either side of this point and the efficiency diminishes.

By comparing 2 backward curved centrifugal impellers, one in AC and the other in EC.

Model

Fan/motor type

Supply

Motor power

Speed

DKHR 315-2SW-098

AC 3 phase fan 2 pole motor

400Volts 50Hz

1.52Kwa

2750rpm

GKHR 315-CIW.098

EC 3phase fan

380/480Volts 50/60Hz

1.41Kwa

2950rpm

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Model

Point 1 - 2603m³/h at 900 Pa

Point 2 - 2000mm³/h at 166Pa

Point 3 - 3300mm³/h at 450Pa

DKHR 315-2SW.098.6FA (Fan power)

Power : 1.42kW

Power : 0.62 kW

Power : 1.41 kW

Efficiency : 37.5%

Efficiency : 14%

Efficiency : 28%

GKHR 315-CIW.098.5FA (Total power)

Power : 1.33 kW

Power : 0.27 kW

Power : 1.04 kW

Efficiency : 49.6%

Efficiency : 38%

Efficiency : 45%

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The EC fan can rotate at a higher speed (2950rpm) than the AC (2750rpm) with a smaller motor than the AC fan (2.41 instead of 1.52Kwa)

The data for the AC fan is the consumed fan power and excludes losses from any inverter or controller necessary to control the fan.

The EC fan does not require any inverter or speed controller

Energy savings with EC fans

Let’s assume a laminar flow workstation requiring 13200m³/h at 450Pa. This requires 4 off Ø315 backward curved fans. Now let us assume that this workstation operates for 50 weeks of the year and for 8 hours per day at full speed. During non working hours to maintain the work area, the fans are run at roughly half the airflow.

Let’s compare the power consumed :

AC fan

2800hrs @ 4 x 1.41kW = 5.64kW

15,792 kWh

5600hrs @ 4 x 0.62kW = 2.48kW

13,888 kWh

Total A

29,680 kWh

EC fan

2800 hrs @ 4 x 1.04kW = 4.16kW

11,648 kWh

5600 hrs @ 4 x 0.27kW = 1.08kW

6,048 kWh

Total B

17,696 kWh

A minus B

11,984kWh saved with the EC fan

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Additional Functions

Constant pressure : Used in conjunction with a pressure sensor, the fan maintains the same pressure at varying airflow (ideal for ducted applications). Operates with forward curved centrifugal fans without pressure sensor and with backward curved motorised impellers with pressure sensor (Available on Ecofit fans).

Constant airflow : The fan maintains the same airflow at varying pressure (ideal for filtered applications) (Available on Ecofit fans).

Hall effect : A tachometric output is available, which can be used for an optional alarm relay (Available on both Ecofit & Rosenberg fans)

Pressure control : A pressure sensor can be connected directly to the Electronic of the EC motor. The pressure control is made by the integrated electronics. No additional control unit is needed. (Rosenberg Versions only)

Master/Slave : This system is used when several fans are used together within a single application. The main fan (Master) is individually pressure controlled. The other fans (slaves) are then speed controlled by the Master fan : Slave Fans are always at the speed of the master fan (Rosenberg Versions only).